Fpl Starts Work On Line To Meet Increased Demand

September 23, 2005|By Tal Abbady Staff Writer

Delray Beach — Along Congress Avenue, the presence of orange cones and men in hard hats signaled the inevitable: the arrival of more power lines to meet the demands of a growing population in southern Palm Beach County.

Construction began Thursday on the southern phase of a high-voltage power line that has raised concerns among residents west of Boynton Beach since public meetings more than a year ago.

In Delray Beach, drivers on Congress Avenue can expect to see lane barricades while workers are on the job from about 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the poles go up in about 45 days.

The Florida Power & Light Co. line is planned to be built from the Corbett substation west of Wellington, along the south side of the Boynton Canal to Military Trail, south on Military Trail to the canal just north of Woolbright Road, then east on Woolbright Road to Congress Avenue, south on Congress Avenue to Lowson Boulevard, to the FPL substation east of Interstate 95 in Delray Beach, then south along Congress Avenue to the Yamato substation in Boca Raton.

FPL spokesman Tony Newbold said the power company is in the process of obtaining easement permits from private property owners for the middle phase of the project, which would take the line through communities in western Boynton Beach.

Construction on the northern phase of the project near Corbett began months ago, Newbold said.

Sandy Greenberg, of the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, said her group worked with FPL to strike a compromise for a route that would border as few homes as possible. That agreement included switching portions of the route to the west side of Military Trail.

"This is a compromise that COBWRA can live with," Greenberg said. "Does it satisfy everyone? Absolutely not. But we feel it's the best compromise for the area."

Newbold said the power line would be in service by next summer and would serve coastal communities in southern Palm Beach County.

"Southern Palm Beach County continues to grow. ... We need to be able to continue to serve the needs of the community," he said.

Poles averaging 80 feet high will hold 230-kilovolt power lines.

"They're unsightly," Greenberg said. "But we need the lines. This is the reality."

Tal Abbady can be reached at tabbady@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6624.